Busy time ahead for Bears

By TOM MUSICK – tmusick@nwherald.com

CHICAGO – No two-a-day practices? No sweat.

Actually, strike that. There will be a lot of sweat.

The Bears released their full training camp schedule Wednesday in advance of their 10th season at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais. The team’s first practice is set for Saturday, and camp is scheduled to end three weeks later with players heading north Aug. 20.

The NFL’s new collective bargaining agreement forbids two-a-day practices, but the Bears will face a grueling schedule anyway. They are scheduled to conduct 10 practices in the first 11 days of camp, with one day off (Aug. 4) between Saturday and Aug. 10.

With one exception, each practice will start at noon, 2:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. Seven night practices are slated for the Bears, who have four prime-time games on their regular season schedule.

All practices at ONU will be open to the public. Admission is free.

Imperfect 10: Bears rookie quarterback Nathan Enderle will wear uniform No. 10, which has had a checkered past for quarterbacks on the lakefront in the past few decades.

The past five quarterbacks to wear No. 10 for the Bears have been Todd Collins (2010), Kordell Stewart (2003), Henry Burris (2002), Mark Butterfield (1996) and Peter Tom Willis (1990-93). Collins arguably was the worst of the bunch, finishing last season with a 5.9 passer rating.

Perhaps Enderle will have better luck. He wore No. 10 in college with the Idaho Vandals, where he passed for 81 touchdowns and more than 10,000 yards as a four-year starter.

Familiar foe: The Bears will have to prepare for Donovan McNabb again this season.

McNabb, 34, a Chicago native who attended Mount Carmel High School, has fared well against his hometown team. In seven starts against the Bears, his teams have posted a 5-2 record.

The Bears will host the Vikings on Oct. 16 and visit Minnesota on Jan. 1.

Bears bits: Single-game tickets for Bears’ preseason and regular season home games will go on sale at 11 a.m. today. Tickets will be available online via Ticketmaster or by calling 800-745-3000. … Linebacker J.T. Thomas, the Bears’ sixth-round draft pick, will wear No. 52.